The concept of medical neutrality is defined as "a principle that healthcare providers provide care without judging or imposing their personal beliefs on patients"(CNN). It means that doctors and nurses are supposed to focus on patient treatment without any bias towards race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc.
In most modern societies, there are implicit normative standards for what constitutes a desirable person. These standards usually divide people into binary categories such as male/female, straight/gay, black/white, abled/disabled, etc. Therefore, the very act of defining normalcy is already biased. In this essay, I will explore how these binaries impact medical neutrality and whether it can exist in such societies.
Let's examine the concept of medical neutrality itself. Medical professionals take an oath to treat all patients equally regardless of their background or beliefs. This includes providing necessary treatment irrespective of their religious affiliation, ethnic origin, political views, or social status. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines medical neutrality as "the duty of health workers and facilities during armed conflict and other emergencies to remain independent from all parties to the conflict, not to discriminate against individuals or groups on the basis of their political opinions or affiliations, and not to engage in acts of violence against others" (WHO). This definition implies that even in times of war, healthcare providers should not discriminate against anyone based on their affiliations.
Let's look at how societal norms impact medical neutrality. Many cultures worldwide define masculinity and femininity through traditional roles and behaviors.
In many parts of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, boys are often raised to be strong, assertive, confident, stoic, and aggressive, while girls are expected to be quiet, gentle, submissive, and modest. These standards have been reinforced by religion, culture, and media for centuries. As a result, people who do not fit into those categories face various forms of discrimination. They may be bullied, excluded, ridiculed, assaulted, abused, or murdered because they challenge the binary norms. Even though these binaries are fading away in some regions, they still persist in most places. In such societies, it is difficult for medical professionals to provide unbiased care without judging patients based on their gender expression, sexual orientation, or sex characteristics.
Medical professionals can also be biased towards race. Different ethnicities have different genetic predispositions to certain diseases.
Black people have a higher risk of sickle cell anemia than white people due to their ancestry. Similarly, East Asians tend to have rounder faces and eyes than Europeans, which affects how surgical procedures are performed on them. Medical professionals should treat all patients equally regardless of their racial background.
Even in countries where there is no overt racism, subtle stereotypes may influence treatment decisions. This was evident during COVID-19 when Asian Americans were subjected to hate crimes and accused of spreading the virus despite having lower infection rates.
Classism plays a role in determining medical treatment. Rich people receive better healthcare than poor people even if they have similar conditions. The wealthy often pay for private hospitals with better equipment, medications, and staff. Insurance companies also charge more money for rich clients, resulting in longer waiting times and less access to specialists. These differences are not always intentional but result from implicit biases against low-income individuals. Therefore, even doctors who try to remain neutral may unconsciously favor the wealthy.
Societal norms impact medical neutrality by creating biases that make it difficult for providers to provide care without judging patients based on their gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or social class. While these standards can change over time, they persist in most parts of the world today. Healthcare systems must address these issues to provide equal access to everyone, regardless of their background or beliefs.
Can medical neutrality exist in societies that define normalcy through binary standards?
Medical neutrality is a principle of providing health care services equally to everyone regardless of their race, nationality, religion, and socioeconomic status. In societies where "normalcy" is defined by binary standards, this principle becomes challenging since some individuals may be considered abnormal due to their non-conforming sexual orientation, gender identity, or cultural practices.